The Phoenix Project

[SS_Firehawk]

So I'm stuck on this plane with terrible Internet for a while and wanted to start creating a new thread since I no longer have my black Z anymore. For now, I really want to start tracking mods done, pics of the parts, gains, and documenthe my process. Guess it's a bootleg blog. I will attach pics and better organize this when I have more time and not in a flying tube.

So I started off with short tails, which did sound nice, and drowned like mad. I think the car gained power from it because I was making 307whp with just that mod. I didn't have a clean baseline, but I would assume it is between 290 and 295whp.

Next, I added AAM midpipes. This mod opened the exhaust up to 2.5" and maintained the nismo have pipe configuration. Without a tune, I saw no gains. The sound was deeper and more refined overall compared to just short tails

For intakes, I decided on Z1''s after ordering them on black friday. I had originally planned for the AAM intakes, but I quickly changed my mind after saving over $100. Again I didn't see much of a power gain without tuning. They are a full id, and don't have any choke points for the maf. I like that they were powder coated and you can choose your colors.

I went back to AAM for resonated testpipes. I was apprehensive in pairing this with short tails as I thought it will be raspy and sound unrefined. I was hoping I was wrong, but unfortunately, I was right. It lasted a week before I ordered mufflers. There was small gains before tuning, but after tuning, I was making 327whp/270wtq in 4th gear.

To fix the noise issue, I went back to AAM for their axleback. It was a bit overpriced, but it came in quickly. Before break in, I hated it. It was too quiet, the rawness turned I to a muted puff barely louder than stock, it was just bad. After break in, finally some soul came back and had good volume. Unfortunately, shoddy engineering from AAM, the exhaust hanger broke. Now imy passed and want to sell everything I bought from AAM. I'll send what I do.

I bought a ported lower manifold a couple months ago and installed it on my own. It was difficult to discern any improvement on its own. There was no sound change. The piece was done by Synergy and was ported evenly, very good craftsmanship.

I just received the ported upper manifold and throttle bodies from Scott as well. I am not home to get a good look, but my cousin measured them and will be installing for me soon. I think that having th ported TB's, upper and lower are critical to making good gains that are noticable. I don't know when I can get a dyno done, but I'm hoping I can hit 340whp/275wtq in 5th.

I'm still debating on purchasing headers and Z1's filter upgrade, but I also plan on going turbo in the future. I am curious as to whether or not I can hit 350whp with just true bolt ons and pump gas. Then again 350whp is nothing compared to 550+.

I'll revise this post with more info and a lot of pics.

[cv129]

Originally Posted by SS_Firehawk

So I'm stuck on this plane with terrible Internet for a while

Write about project car, best way to forget being stuck on a plane (unless there is a hot flight attendant).

Originally Posted by SS_Firehawk

I am curious as to whether or not I can hit 350whp with just true bolt ons and pump gas.

That would be nice

[SS_Firehawk]

I'm way out in BFE with slow internet. I'm unable to upload pics at the moment. But just a miinor update

Throttle bodies are installed, ported upper is installed as well.
I ordered a new sandwich plate for my AE performance oil cooler. My cousin said he can fab up a new mount for eith my oil cooler or the Nismo damper to get both to fit.
I ordered Z1 15mm hubcentric spacers with 10mm extended studs.
I have Swift springs at home waiting to be installed
I also ordered some SPC rear camber arms with toe bolts to realign the rear end. I was going to do SPL, but I needed to cut costs and I can resell when I decide to do a complete suspension overhaul. SPC rear arms aren't bad, but the toe bolts don't lock. Then I got a second radiator cap to match the first.

Small things, but for $470, I can fix my oil cooler and install it, then install my Swift springs and get a proper alignment. Spacers are justto flush out the wheels and make the fitment more aesthetically pleasing lol

[SS_Firehawk]

So my effing phone broke and along with some pictures Hopefully I can find some hidden in my computer at home.So as per usual, I haz updates...

I ordered Z1 headers after years of eye raping them, then going back and forth with going balls out on PPE's again. Black Friday sale helped. What's funny though is I was "window shopping" and had the item in my cart as I was looking at total costs and options, still debating on whether to pull the trigger. The guys at Z1 must have been like, "This effing guy has done this 15 times in the last 3 days, and by looking at his track record, he buys $hit every black friday, call him". Well, I'm still deployed. They called my Wife's phone and busted me out! I told her i wasn't going to buy anything. And I have Rod @ Z1 calling Wife telling her about an order I placed lol. She messaged me and told me "Z1 Mosorsports just called" "What are you buying?" I responded "I'm errrm.... Window shopping" Her: "HA Yah right". "They're sending you an email". So under that notion, I ordered under the cover that they were already bought and she was still okay lol. I intend to swap the flange on the header to a VHR flange. I think it will help it's value if I sell them for a turbo setup (unless I go BP) since now you don't have to buy DE pipes.

But that's not all... I went and ordered RJM Bilet oil pump gears for all the RPM's... well until valve float and crank flex stops the fun (I'm JK.. I just want 8k reliable and a couple hundred rpm for over-rev).

I also purchased an ATI Super damper to help with those high rpm vibrations.

Lastly, I ordered Avant Garde F542's. I'm still sending sacrifices to them for payment. They're 19x10 +30 and 19X11 +13. No crazy offsets since I want to run them with proper alignment and an appropriately sized tire. I plan on running 275/35 19's up front and 305/30/19 in the back. I'm keeping my Nismo wheels. I love them too much, I just wanted another pair of shoes in the closet for shows and when I wanna look extra fly.

So my goals are to see if I can take a crack at 350whp with the ported throttle bodies, ported upper, ported lower, and headers. The car was tuned with 327whp 270wtq without the ported stuff. another 23whp is a tall order, but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility. And if I do make it, it would be a pretty good parts list to replicate what's needed.

Really the only think I didn't order are the big @ss Z1 filters and I didn't grab the EPS TB's, obviously opting to just run ported stocks. I really think those two mods could benefit larger intake pipes (2.75"+). But with boost in the next couple years, I didn't want to go to crazy on parts that are going to get swapped anyways. Sorry for the no pictures.

[SS_Firehawk]

I finally went to the dark side and put a Fast Intentions order in... it should arrive within a couple weeks of me coming home...

[Hotrodz]

Welcome to the right side!